US Hurricane Center warns of “potential tropical cyclone one”; predicts heavy rain, flash flooding in Texas, Louisiana | Today’s news
The US National Hurricane Center issued a potential tropical cyclone warning on Tuesday, June 16. The first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season could form in the Gulf in the next day or two, according to local reports.
An advisory issued at 10 a.m. CDT on June 16 said “potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding is possible across the Texas coast eastward into central Mississippi through Thursday.”
“Prolonged rainfall may extend the threat of flooding into the weekend. Widespread flooding of small streams and minor rivers is expected along the Texas coast into southwest Louisiana, with isolated areas of significant flooding possible across the Texas coast and Louisiana,” National Hurricane Center predicted.
She added that “Potential Tropical Cyclone 1” is forecast to become a tropical storm as it moves along or just off the northwestern Gulf Coast during Wednesday.
“A tropical storm watch has been issued from Sargent, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana,” the National Hurricane Center said in its forecast.
Minor to moderate coastal flooding is expected along parts of the Upper Texas and Louisiana coasts.
“First Named Storm of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season”
Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, said in an online post that the first name on the list of tropical storms in the Atlantic basin is Arthur.
DaSilva was quoted by USA Today as saying the system has a 60 percent chance of becoming Tropical Storm Arthur as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.
“The time frame for possible development is Tuesday (June 16) through Wednesday (June 17) before the system moves inland,” DaSilva said.
The system will bring “heavy rainfall” to parts of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, though it won’t merit the name “Arthur,” the report added.
The hurricane center said that “regardless of tropical cyclone development, concerns across southern and eastern Texas and parts of Louisiana and Mississippi should brace for a period of intense rain over the next several days that could cause widespread, life-threatening flash, urban and river flooding.”
“Strong winds and coastal flooding are also possible along a portion of the northwest Gulf Coast,” the hurricane center said, according to USA Today.
